Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
Canadian Asian tapas fusion restaurant by Masterchef Canada judge Alvin Leung & winner, Eric Chong. One of the best restaurants in Toronto. Try: baked BBQ pork bun, octopus, chicken & waffles, drinks
17 locals recommend
R&D
241 Spadina Ave.Canadian Asian tapas fusion restaurant by Masterchef Canada judge Alvin Leung & winner, Eric Chong. One of the best restaurants in Toronto. Try: baked BBQ pork bun, octopus, chicken & waffles, drinks
Famous poutine specialty restaurant 150 m away from my condo. Open late! M, Tu, Su until 12 am, W, Th until 3 am, F, Sa until 4 am.
71 locals recommend
Smoke's Poutinerie
203 Dundas St EFamous poutine specialty restaurant 150 m away from my condo. Open late! M, Tu, Su until 12 am, W, Th until 3 am, F, Sa until 4 am.
Fantastic wine bar with plates and wine from Portugal & Spain. Try: paella, wines, drinks, everything.
37 locals recommend
Salt Wine Bar Ltd
225 Ossington AvenueFantastic wine bar with plates and wine from Portugal & Spain. Try: paella, wines, drinks, everything.
New Orleans live jazz bar with Cajun-Creole food in front of TIFF. Live jazz every night except Monday. Amazing atmosphere, amazing music and food. Try: peppercorn mussels with beer.
10 locals recommend
N'Awlins
299 King St WNew Orleans live jazz bar with Cajun-Creole food in front of TIFF. Live jazz every night except Monday. Amazing atmosphere, amazing music and food. Try: peppercorn mussels with beer.
A one-of-a-kind brasserie with a meat-centric, creative menus (expect game meats) & inventive cocktails. Try: bone marrow, pistachio hummus and chicken livers (to die for), horse tartare, beef heart.
29 locals recommend
Cocktail Bar
923 Dundas Street WestA one-of-a-kind brasserie with a meat-centric, creative menus (expect game meats) & inventive cocktails. Try: bone marrow, pistachio hummus and chicken livers (to die for), horse tartare, beef heart.
Best okonomiyaki in town. Cozy unassuming atmosphere where you can see food being cooked in front of your eyes. Try: seafood/scallops/shrimp/beef/pork/chicken okonomiyaki, steak teriyaki, plum wine.
13 locals recommend
Okonomi House Restaurant
23 Charles St WBest okonomiyaki in town. Cozy unassuming atmosphere where you can see food being cooked in front of your eyes. Try: seafood/scallops/shrimp/beef/pork/chicken okonomiyaki, steak teriyaki, plum wine.
A great restaurant for lunch or dinner or for drink after dinner. Right in front of TIFF.
7 locals recommend
HUSH Restaurant, Bar & Patio
303 King Street WestA great restaurant for lunch or dinner or for drink after dinner. Right in front of TIFF.
Great appetizers and cocktails right in front of TIFF. Thursday cocktail special is $5/drink (normally over $10-14).
25 locals recommend
Joe Mamas
317 King Street WestGreat appetizers and cocktails right in front of TIFF. Thursday cocktail special is $5/drink (normally over $10-14).
Latin American street food & drinks in a hip space & an upstairs patio. Try: flight of ceviche, Chaufa (fried rice with duck confit - I swear they use drugs. It tastes incredible), drinks.
58 locals recommend
Valdez Restaurant
Latin American street food & drinks in a hip space & an upstairs patio. Try: flight of ceviche, Chaufa (fried rice with duck confit - I swear they use drugs. It tastes incredible), drinks.
Amazing selection of delicious sausages (very modest prices) and a heavenly selection of craft and/or rare beers to go with it. No reservation & communal seating. Great atmosphere. Try: everything
198 locals recommend
WVRST
609 King St WAmazing selection of delicious sausages (very modest prices) and a heavenly selection of craft and/or rare beers to go with it. No reservation & communal seating. Great atmosphere. Try: everything
My (and Toronto's) favourite Thai restaurant that rivals Pai. They don't take reservations, but it's worth the wait. Try: khao soi, Thai milk tea, everything "Spicy" or "Medium" not "Thai spicy".
199 locals recommend
Khao San Road
11 Charlotte StMy (and Toronto's) favourite Thai restaurant that rivals Pai. They don't take reservations, but it's worth the wait. Try: khao soi, Thai milk tea, everything "Spicy" or "Medium" not "Thai spicy".
Toronto's favourite new Northern Thai food restaurant. If you like Thai food, you'll love this place. Try: everything either "foreigner spicy" or "medium" - do not attempt Thai spicy.
266 locals recommend
PAI
18 Duncan StToronto's favourite new Northern Thai food restaurant. If you like Thai food, you'll love this place. Try: everything either "foreigner spicy" or "medium" - do not attempt Thai spicy.
Elegant upscale Portuguese cuisine and dishes prepared from fresh fish flown in daily from Portugal. Excellent wine selection. Try: monk fish, everything (they're all mouthwatering). * Note: pricy.
22 locals recommend
Chiado Restaurant
864 College StElegant upscale Portuguese cuisine and dishes prepared from fresh fish flown in daily from Portugal. Excellent wine selection. Try: monk fish, everything (they're all mouthwatering). * Note: pricy.
My favourite panini & gelato place with a great selection of gelato and great coffee. Try: pistachio gelato (they do the best pistachio gelato in town) or the other dozens of flavours.
24 locals recommend
G For Gelato
75 Jarvis StreetMy favourite panini & gelato place with a great selection of gelato and great coffee. Try: pistachio gelato (they do the best pistachio gelato in town) or the other dozens of flavours.
My favourite Chinese restaurant in Toronto in the heart of China Town. Restaurant is clean & modern and offers affordable excellent quality food and service. Try: congee, BBQ baby pork, everything.
21 locals recommend
House Of Gourmet
484 Dundas St WMy favourite Chinese restaurant in Toronto in the heart of China Town. Restaurant is clean & modern and offers affordable excellent quality food and service. Try: congee, BBQ baby pork, everything.
Drinks & Nightlife
Innovative, amazing cocktails by expert mixologists & creative nibbles in a simply beautiful space. They also make gingerbeer fresh in-house. Try: everything.
14 locals recommend
Rush Lane & Co.
563 Queen St WInnovative, amazing cocktails by expert mixologists & creative nibbles in a simply beautiful space. They also make gingerbeer fresh in-house. Try: everything.
Dimly lit, intimate environment bar with beautiful drinks beyond your imagination. Try: coconut mojito, the gala, sailor's mojito, vanilla and hickory smoked manhattan, everything. * Note: pricy.
145 locals recommend
BarChef
472 Queen St WDimly lit, intimate environment bar with beautiful drinks beyond your imagination. Try: coconut mojito, the gala, sailor's mojito, vanilla and hickory smoked manhattan, everything. * Note: pricy.
My favourite local microbrewery with rotating selection of beer & seasonal dishes. There's also an excellent patio. Try: omerta, wizard wolf (if they still have it), everything.
373 locals recommend
Bellwoods Brewery
124 Ossington AveMy favourite local microbrewery with rotating selection of beer & seasonal dishes. There's also an excellent patio. Try: omerta, wizard wolf (if they still have it), everything.
Tasteful prohibition-era theme bar with a patio & great service. Craft cocktails, bourbon/whisky with delicious bistro appetizers. Try: prawn ceviche, beef tartare, chocolate ganache (heaven in mouth)
7 locals recommend
SpeakEasy 21
21 Adelaide St WTasteful prohibition-era theme bar with a patio & great service. Craft cocktails, bourbon/whisky with delicious bistro appetizers. Try: prawn ceviche, beef tartare, chocolate ganache (heaven in mouth)
Excellent pub food, decent selection of beer, amazing service, great patio. Personal favourite pub. Try: meat pie, polar bear shots, draft beer.
9 locals recommend
Artful Dodger
10 Isabella StExcellent pub food, decent selection of beer, amazing service, great patio. Personal favourite pub. Try: meat pie, polar bear shots, draft beer.
Amazing bar with regional craft beer you can choose from A to Z, great charcuterie & cheese, as well as wine options. Patio is also excellent. Try: all the beers A to Z, charcuterie & cheese.
45 locals recommend
Bar Volo
582 Church StreetAmazing bar with regional craft beer you can choose from A to Z, great charcuterie & cheese, as well as wine options. Patio is also excellent. Try: all the beers A to Z, charcuterie & cheese.
Great patio with excellent views of the CN tower & downtown Toronto. Try: margarita bucket with upside down Corona.
40 locals recommend
The Porch
250 Adelaide St WGreat patio with excellent views of the CN tower & downtown Toronto. Try: margarita bucket with upside down Corona.
Best selection of sake in Toronto. Their food to go with the sake is excellent as well.
11 locals recommend
Kintaro Izakaya
459 Church StBest selection of sake in Toronto. Their food to go with the sake is excellent as well.
Bier Markt
600 King St WUnparalleled selection of beer and great patio. Try: beer flights.
Restaurant/wine bar. Excellent selection of wine & some of their food is to die for. Try: lobster guacamole.
REDS Wine Tavern
77 Canadian PlRestaurant/wine bar. Excellent selection of wine & some of their food is to die for. Try: lobster guacamole.
Arts & Culture
TIFF
350 King St WThe centre of all the buzz and films of amazing caliber & talent!
A huge theatre in the heart of the Entertainment District equipped with IMAX, DBOX, Real D 3D, UltraAVX screens among regular screens.
358 locals recommend
Scotiabank Theatre
259 Richmond St WA huge theatre in the heart of the Entertainment District equipped with IMAX, DBOX, Real D 3D, UltraAVX screens among regular screens.
A huge beautiful (& historical) theatre that is home to many award-winning musicals.
243 locals recommend
Princess of Wales Theatre
300 King St WA huge beautiful (& historical) theatre that is home to many award-winning musicals.